ESTIMATED PRODUCTION OF FISH (TILAPIA) AND PLANTS (BASILS) IN A LABORATORY-SCALE AQUAPONICS SYSTEM

Experiments were conducted to estimate the total production of fish and plants in a laboratory-scale aquaponics system. For fish species, Nile tilapia were reared in a total of 300 gallon (divided into two groups- controlled and stressed, reach with two replicates) of water while basils were grown in two water beds (two species of basils- Holy and Thai) in a total area of 3.0 m². In six weeks, the total yield of tilapia was 40.18 pounds (23.69 pounds from control group +  16.49 pounds from stressed group), while in 20 weeks, the total plant yield was 44.44 pounds (23.35 pounds from Thai basil + 21.10 pounds from Holy basil). When examined, compared to fish reared in controlled environment, stressed fish had lower condition factor (length-weight relationship) and immune capacity (macrophage phagocytic capacity) . If fish are  given better husbandry, the total yields for fish will change and bring better profit to the farmers.